beachbum6264

We actually bring one for each day. At night we change them out. This way if something happens to the camera we don't lose all of our pictures. The equipment is insured and can be replaced but the pictures would be gone forever. I have a credit card sized holder for them that I got on Amazon.

 

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Same here. A friend who is a professional photographer suggested this to me. She never uses anything bigger than an 8GB card. I don't want to take the chance of a card corrupting and losing the whole vacation.

Also, I'm going with my mother on this cruise and she isnt platinum yet. Will she still get the priority check-in with me?

If she's in the same cabin as you, yes, she should - her booking number will be the same as yours and her SS card will be with yours. My DH is not platinum yet and he always boards with me.

I've cruised 7 times during the last week in August. Never had a cruise cancelled, but have had itineraries changed - a Western turned into an Eastern, an Eastern changed into a Western, and a 7 day turned into a 9 day (Yay us!) because the Port of Tampa was closed due to Hurricane Frances. (we got a 2nd day in Cozumel and an extra day at sea). Take a deep breath and calm down. Heck, I live in Florida and I don't blink twice about booking during hurricane season.

I've taken both on all 18 cruises and never had a problem. I guess they know what they're up against if they take those away! LOL!

I love to dress up. My husband and I are actually looking for a cruiseline where some people are willing to dress up. I plan on wearing an evening gown and my husband will be wearing a tuxedo even if the folks seated next to us are in jeans. I think the trend to dress casually as been carried too far. Does anyone know of a cruiseline where formal still means tuxedos and evening gowns?

Cunard is one. You won't feel out of place on Holland America either, although you won't see quite as many as you will on Cunard.

From what I remember, there were a few games with a 4th theme, some red, white & blue desserts in the Lido and that's about it. Not everyone onboard was American, so not a big deal made.

I say rent a car. Keep in mind the time it takes to get from MK to the parking lot tho. Monorail is quickest. There is a lot of road construction in/around WDW right now, so be prepared for that, as well as on I-4. Leave time for traffic in Orlando on 4, it's a mess.

Do you know if the inside cabins have a refrigerator now?

A recent review with photos.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2490893&highlight=carnival+victory%2C+review

Thanks for the link!

Are you doing Key West and Coz? These are two fun stop[s with tons to do. We did her on a 4 day a few years ago and had a great time. Go prepared to PARTY however...it was over a weekend and was the rowdiest cruise we have been on.

Yes, we've been to both several times - there's a ferry to KW close to us and we go for a day or two a couple times a year. Been to Coz a about dozen times, still love it. Did the NCL Sky (open bar ship) over NYE with 18 friends - now that was a party! We may be retired, but that just gives us more time to drink, LOL!

We usually do late dining. The only time we didn't was a 21 day cruise - we didn't want to take the chance of sitting with someone we didn't like for 21 days. (I know you can ask to move, but that might have been too obvious). I agree with what everyone before me has said, fewer children, no rushing through dinner, no rushing to get ready after a port day, longer to enjoy the day on a sea day, the same servers without having to ask, know where our table is, and never have to wait. One less thing to think about, one less decision to make - make life easy. :cool:

So I booked a birthday cruise for him in October. Just a short one (4 days), and a cheap one (inside cabin), but hey, it's a cruise! I cut our wait time in half. That should shut him up. :halo:

Tell me something nice about the Victory.

I've been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Norwegian. I think Carnival and Royal are pretty close - I think the food is better on Carnival but the entertainment was better on Royal. Holland is dressier and has an older customer base, food was great and so was entertainment - we were on a 21 day and only repeated menu twice and no repeat of shows. Norwegian was a quick 3 day over NYE with a bunch of friends and we were not impressed - might have been because it was their smallest/oldest ship, but food was just not good. We had a blast, due to open bar on ship and the other 16 people we were with, but doubt we'll return to NCL.

If you live within a couple of hours drive to a port and have nothing to do over a long weekend and can get a great deal - that's when a 3 day cruise is worth it. Other than that, no. You unpack, turn around, and it's time to pack again. And like most have said, the Bahamas are not worth a flight or a long drive by themselves (and this comes from someone who is half Bahamian and lived in Nassau as a kid).

5 day minimum - 7 is better - Nassau only as a stop on the way to anywhere else (except Freeport or Jamaica!)

Tape them at home, punch a hole, bring zip ties with you, attach them right before you hand them over to the porters at the port. Problem solved, you both win!

Your friend sounds like someone I would not like to travel with. What a know-it-all party pooper. I wouldn't believe anything she told me after those two bits of 'advise'. :rolleyes:

Some of us, maybe even many of us, feel the same way about going to california for any reason, not just for a cruise.

LOL, where's the "Like" button?

For those who love shelling... here's Sanibel... this was after a little storm the night before..

I bought a cooler. It's not for wine but for meds that need refrigeration.

 

 

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If you have meds that need refrigeration you may be able to get a cooler onboard - from the Carnival website:

For guests who are traveling with injectable medication and need a Sharps disposal container, please contact the Medical Center or the onboard Housekeeping staff. Some ships have staterooms equipped with mini-bars designed to maintain the temperature of beverages. Mini-bars are not to be used to store medications that have specific temperature requirements. Portable medi-coolers are available on a first come first serve basis. If a cooler is not available, our Medical Center can assist guests with refrigeration needs, or you may bring your own personal-size cooler for this purpose.

If you need general information about accessibility before you cruise, please call our Guest Access team at 1-800-438-6744 ext.70025 or email specialneeds@carnival.com. If you have an ADA complaint, please email us at access@carnival.com. Carnival's designated ADA Responsibility Officer is Vicky Rey, Vice President Guest Care and Port Services.

Atlantis has greatly limited the areas people can wander without having a wristband now. Used to be you could just go and wander about - not so much any more, so if you want to go and see anything you'll need an excursion of some kind. Not sure if you still can do it, but at one time if you booked a room at the hotel next to Atlantis (the name escapes me now) you got access to all of Atlantis, that turned out to be cheaper than the price of several excursions, so it depended on how many in your party and what time of year.

Key West is easy without an excursion. You can get tickets for the Conch Train cheaper on land, or rent an electric car and drive around the island yourself. We've done that a couple of times and they'll take you back to the ship when you drop off the car when you're done. Or just walk Duval Street (or do the "Duval Crawl", LOL) Hemingway's house is interesting, too. Get some key lime pie while you're there, and a drink at Sloppy Joe's.

I know the drive... I used to live in Shelbyville, TN, I could have taught your daughter! (I taught 2nd grade at Southside) I sailed out of Mobile years ago, always stayed at the Microtel in Saraland, it's just a few miles away from Mobile. They have a park/stay package that includes a shuttle to/from the port. Clean rooms, good breakfast, decent price and a reliable shuttle. Can't ask for anything else.

I love Cozumel, great for a relaxing beach day. Love Nachi Cocom (book online, google for their website). Love them because they limit the number of people they allow in, no chairs lined up side by side like most other beaches. All inclusive, pool, good beach. Just take a taxi there and they'll call one for you when you're ready to leave. Great service there.

If you're going to Progresso you might want an excursion, the beach is not so great. Or you can just wander around and get a really cheap massage right on the beach. The pier is about 4 miles long, so you get a bus into town (free bus). There's a bus to ride around town that gives you a quick tour and some history of the town - used to be $2 but I'm sure it's gone up by now.

There will be Carnival beach towels in your room. You can take those with you off the ship. Just don't lose them, you'll get charged for them. 18 cruises and I've not lost one yet.

I can live without wifi, my phone goes off and into the safe. Your daughter may be different... if she can't live without social media you'll have to buy a plan.

Bring a watch, stay on ship time - local time may be different so don't rely on your phone for the time.

Have fun!!

If you are planning it for a port stop day, I'd say don't do it. WDW is a pretty good drive from PC, and if there is a delay on I-4 (a good bet that there will be with all the construction going on now) that will just take more time off your day.

If you're going before or after a cruise that leaves from PC, then yes, I'd go. We just got back from a longer (9 day) trip with our 4year old and 20 month old grandkids - had a blast. Not our first trip, we've been many many times, but always find something new to do.

I'd get magic bands - you can add more after you've done the 3 you can book so don't book 2 early in the day and the 3rd later... get all 3 early. Make reservations for a sit-down lunch - I'd do the Crystal Palace - it's a buffet and Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eyeore come to your table. Great photo ops. Food is good, too. Try to get by without carrying a purse or any other kind of bag, avoid the longer lines at the entrance. You won't really need anything other than your magic band and phone or camera anyway. If you can, stay for the new Happily Ever After nighttime show - it's pretty impressive.

We use a travel agent, she's a friend in a small town where we used to live. I like to support small business, even if I don't live there anymore. I still do all the planning - I call or email her and tell her the date, the ship and the cabin I want then she lets me know my booking #. Part of why I use her is that I think if there is a problem the cruise lines are more likely to say "Yes" to a travel agent than to an individual. She sends a lot of people on cruises, I just cruise occasionally. Maybe my thinking is flawed, but she's come through for me before. I don't use her for extra stuff, but there may be a bottle of alcohol in our cabin when we board. :D

Get a regular Kindle - like a Paperwhite. It's just like reading a book in the sun - no glare at all. With the Paperwhite you can also read at night without having to turn on a light or have a separate book light. Best thing ever! I carry mine in my purse everywhere I go. DH takes his whenever we travel or go anywhere he might have a few minutes to read. I haven't bought many books for mine - I check them out of our local library. Free is good, and I know I'll have all the books I need and they'll be ones I want to read.

See the Maitre-D. There should be a time on the first day for that.